Sports
Jayasuriya mantra is working
by Rex Clementine
After the disappointment of the 1999 World Cup, where Sri Lanka failed to go beyond the first round, it was to Sanath Jayasuriya Sri Lanka Cricket turned to to put the team back on the track. In his own inimitable style, he turned things around for the team. In his first series, Sri Lanka beat world champions Australia in the tri-nation final and into the bargain recorded a first ever Test win over the Aussies.
Some 25 years later, with Chris Silverwood stepping down last month as Head Coach with Sri Lanka knocked out of the first round of the World Cup, it was to Sanath SLC turned again to oversee two tough series on an interim basis – India at home and England overseas. He has started off well.
After being appointed Head Coach, when Jayasuriya addressed a media briefing, he was thrown under the bus. He was asked whether he had any coaching experience before. Ravi Shastri had no prior coaching experience when he took over the Indian job but he went on to achieve the unimaginable by completing a series win in Australia. The last straw was the Aussies being beaten at The Gabba, one of their strongholds, in the series decider.
Shastri was no expert in teaching Rohit Sharma how to play the cover drive or give tips to Mohammed Siraj on how to reverse the old ball. Coaching cricket at the top level is hardly technical and mainly man management. That is what Sanath can do so well. He will be firm with the dodgers with a few choicy Sinhala words but would support those who require bit of attention and lot of affection. He will run with the hare and hunt with the hounds.
At the outset, Sanath made it very clear that people who are representing the country need to show some respect for the national cap. Sadly, modern day cricketers think of themselves as models and not as role models. Studs came off and colouring of the hair stopped. Nothing can be done about the tattoos but for those who are breaking into the side at least, if Sanath remains they’ve got to get their priorities right.
We have been following the Australian system when it comes to coaching for a few years now. No doubts the Australian system has plenty of good things but some of those methods are irrelevant and unsuited for Sri Lanka. For example, the day before a game, it is optional training for the Aussies. David Warner can take a day off the day before a game, no doubt about it. But if 21-year-old Dunith Wellalage wants to take a break day prior to the game than there is a problem there.
It is so good to see that under Sanath Sri Lankan cricketers giving priority to training. The team has not been covering themselves in glory in recent years and there are so many areas you can improve on. Good on him for rectifying this key aspect.
Sanath also has been a very much hands-on coach. He has been clear with the kind of pitches and composition of the side he wants. He has been criticized for not playing on flat tracks. But by no means these have been bad wickets. These pitches have tested batters skill and temperament. Low scoring games are always thrillers.
Of course, at ICC events you get belters and the team could struggle. But given the low ebb the team is at the moment, doing well against a team like India will be a shot in the arm.
The teams are heading to RPS today with the series at stake. India are under tremendous pressure. They have not lost an ODI series to Sri Lanka since 1997.
At the start of the series, if someone had told you that Sri Lanka will be on the verge of a series win heading into the final game, many would have suggested that that person was daydreaming. Mind you this is an Indian side that included Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer. To humble such a formidable line up is sensational indeed. It is all due to hard work and meticulous planning.
That night when Sri Lanka tied the T-20 International at Pallekele and lost on Super Over, the team was crestfallen. So was Sanath. He didn’t let the emotions get the better of him. He travelled the same night to Colombo to work with the ODI players the following morning. That kind of commitment needs to be appreciated.
The players have been committed to the team. The energy they are showing on the field has not been seen before for a long time. These are all steps in the right direction.
This series will give Sri Lanka an enormous amount of self-belief. It will bring back the fans and sponsors. India have been giving us a hard time in recent years. Overcoming them will be the ultimate joy for there’s no better feeling in sports than beating the big brother.
A former Nascar driver and his family were among the seven people killed in a plane crash at a regional airport in North Carolina, the car-racing organisation has said.
A highway patrol spokesman said people on the ground confirmed that Greg Biffle was among those who boarded the plane.
The Cessna C550 crashed while landing at Statesville Regional Airport around 10:20 local time (15:20GMT), officials investigating the incident told reporters.
“Greg was more than a champion driver, he was a beloved member of the NASCAR community, a fierce competitor, and a friend to so many,” Nascar said in a statement where it confirmed Biffle had died along with his wife, daughter, son, and three others.
“His passion for racing, his integrity, and his commitment to fans and fellow competitors alike made a lasting impact on the sport,” the company added.
Beyond the racetrack, Biffle was remembered for helping in North Carolina in the aftermath of last year’s Hurricane Helene, when he used his personal helicopter to rescue stranded residents and deliver supplies.
Tributes to the former racer poured in on Thursday.
“Heartbreaking news out of Statesville,” North Carolina Governor Josh Stein posted on X. “Beyond his success as a NASCAR driver, Greg Biffle lived a life of courage and compassion and stepped up for western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.”
Motorsport YouTuber Garrett Mitchell wrote on Facebook that Biffle and his family were on their way to spend the afternoon with him.
“Unfortunately, I can confirm Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, and son Ryder were on that plane… because they were on their way to spend the afternoon with us,” he wrote on Facebook. “We are devastated. I’m so sorry to share this.”
Statesville Airport Director John Ferguson described the aircraft as a corporate jet and said it was already engulfed in flames when he arrived on the scene.
The Cessna C550 aircraft is owned by a private company associated with Biffle, CBS, the BBC’s US partner, reported.
The jet took off around 10:06 local time and was in the air briefly before it crashed on the east end of the runway.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.
Statesville Airport will remain closed until further notice as crews clear debris off the runway, Mr Ferguson told reporters.
Officials did not provide any information about deaths or people aboard the aircraft during their first media conference.
The National Transportation Safety Board, which is leading the investigation has sent in a team to investigate the fatal crash.
The Statesville Regional Airport (KSVH) is owned by the City of Statesville, which is about 45 minutes north of Charlotte.
It also provides aviation facilities for Fortune 500 companies and several Nascar racing teams.
[BBC]
Oussama Tannane’s wonder goal from inside his own half set Morocco on their way to their second FIFA Arab Cup title with a 3-2 win after extra time in the final against Jordan at the Qatar-hosted event.
A full house at Lusail Stadium in Doha on Thursday was quickly on their feet in the fourth minute when Qatar-based footballer Tannane drilled an effort from well over the halfway line – estimated at 59 metres – to catch out goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila.
The Jordan keeper desperately scrambled back to his line in an attempt to stop the shot and collided with the post, resulting in a lengthy four-minute stoppage before he was cleared to continue and play resumed.
It was only the start of a turbulent final that saw Jordan come back to claim the lead, for the match to be sent to extra time, with Jordanian hearts broken seconds away from their first FIFA Arab Cup title in normal time.
Jordan, who were defeated finalists at the 2025 AFC Asian Cup, pulled level on the night three minutes into the second period when Ali Oliwan pulled away from his marker to head home from close range after a well-worked corner.
Jordan then took the lead for the first time after Mahmoud Almardi’s shot hit the raised hand of Achraf El Mahdioui inside the box, allowing Oliwan to convert from the penalty spot for his second in the 68th minute.
The drama was far from over, however, as second-half substitute Abderrazak Hamdallah levelled in the 88th minute – tapping in on the goal line after a scramble from a corner.
It was Oliwan, though, who had the chance of glory with virtually the final kick of normal time when – put clean through on goal – he was unable to beat the keeper to seal the final for Jordan with what would also have been his hat-trick.
Where many may not have taken their seats for Tannane’s opener, the same may have been the case for the start of extra time as Mohannad Abutaha volleyed a spectacular left-footed effort into the top right corner from the left edge of the box.
Like Tannane’s, it was a strike worthy of winning any final, but VAR ruled out the goal for a controversial handball as the Jordanian controlled the ball before unleashing the effort.
Worse was to follow when Hamdallah tapped in his second time – and the winning goal – after Marwane Saadane’s bicycle kick from a set piece fell kindly into his path from close range.
Morocco previously lifted the Arab Cup in 2012, defeating Libya in the final staged in Saudi Arabia. The Atlas Lions succeed Algeria, who defeated their North African neighbours Tunisia in the final four years ago.
Earlier, Morocco dominated the first period and Tannane, who plays his club football for Umm Salal in the Qatar league, had a glorious opportunity to double the lead on the stroke of half time when Abulaila spilled a cross into his path, but the forward failed to make a clean connection with his left-footed follow up and Issam Smeir slid to clear off the line.
The Jordanian stopper had to be on his feet throughout the first period and produced his best save in the 17th minute when Karim El Berkaoui, after exchanging a one-two with Tannane, drove across the face of goal from the edge of the box, but Abulaila was equal to it, low to his right, to push the effort wide.
Morocco, the first African nation to reach a World Cup semifinal when they achieved the feat at Qatar 2022, will now turn their attention to hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where the squad will be further boosted by a number of their European-based stars who had to prioritise club over country during the Arab Cup.
The FIFA Arab Cup sold more than a million tickets for the 2025 event, doubling what was sold at the previous competition four years ago.
Venura Kaveethra completed a match bag of eight wickets as Mahanama registeted an innings and 62 runs victory over Lumbini in the Under 19 Division I tier A tournament match at Mattegoda on Thursday.
It was the first outright victory for Mahanama in the tournament.
After having declared their innings on the overnight score, Mahanama bowlers did well to restrict Lumbini to 103 runs as Kaveethra picked up four wickets.
Lumbini looked better in the second innings thanks to the resistance of late order batsmen Jayanitha Mendis (8 in 65 balls) and Binuka Ranhiru (12 in 89 balls) who made them last for more than 50 overs.
The day’s other highlight was the unbeaten century scored by Aron David for S. Thomas’. The Thomians were 269 for four wickets at stumps on day one of their match against St. Servatius’ at Mount Lavinia.
Mahanama in innngs win at Mattegoda
Scores
Lumbini
63 all out in 25.2 overs (Venura Kaveethra 4/17, Geeth Sandaruwan 3/31, Thaviru Perera 2/07) and 103 all out in 54.4 overs (Kisandu Dulneth 23; Venura Kaveethra 4/17, Sithum Vihanga 3/05, Geeth Sandaruwan 2/36)
Mahanama
228 for 4 in 41 overs overnight declared (Sithum Vihanga 82, Kaushika Thilakarathne 60, Venura Kaveethra 39n.o., Sanul Weerarathne 24; Mihisara Weerasinghe 2/53)
No decision at DSS ground
Scores
DSS
234 for 7 overnight 283 for 9 in 80 overs (Mayuru Bandara 22, Janindu Ranasinghe 23, Shevan Menusha 68, Randisha Bandaranayake 41, Haamid Afdhal 53, Chithum Baddage 44n.o. ; Ranindu de Silva 2/35, Minage Ariyadasa 2/63, Tenush Nimsara 2/81)
Richmond 90 for 7 in 41 overs (Ravindu Randinu 21, Bevin Jayawardhana 24n.o.; Oshada Perera 4/33, Shanaal Binuksha 2/18)
by Reemus Fernando ✍️
Ex-Nascar driver and his family among seven killed in US plane crash
TikTok owner signs agreements to avoid US ban
Violence breaks out in Bangladesh after death of youth protest leader
Financial contribution from Gift Sri Lanka Foundation and the Georgia Buddhist Vihara, USA, for disaster relief
European Union provides over Euro 2.35 million Humanitarian Assistance to Sri Lanka
Tannane goal from own half sets Morocco on way to FIFA Arab Cup 2025 title
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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